Drier for paper in sheet form



8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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L. DEJONGE, Jr DRIER FOR PAPER IN SHEET FORM. 7 No. 593,926. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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DRIER FOR PAPER IN SHEET FORM.

Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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No. 593,926. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4. L. DEJONGE, Jr. DRIER FOR PAPER IN SHEET FORM.

Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 5. y L. DEJONGE, Jr

DRIER FOR PAPER IN SHEET FORM.

Patented Nov. 16

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No. 593,926. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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No. 598,926. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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upon the construction of like machines and ther, the clamping devices employed will be side View of the front portion of thedryingl 1 UNITED 3STATES' PATENT Fries,

LOUlS DEJONGE, JR, OFSTAPLETON, NEW YORK.

DRIER FORPAPER IN SHEET- FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1a. 593,926, datedNoveinber 16, 1897.

Application filed December 19, 1896;

To all, whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS DEJONGE, J r., residing at Stapleton, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Drier for Paper and other Material in Sheet Form and Gripping Devices Used in Connection Therewith, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention isto. improve devices illustrated and described inpatents granted to 1116 February 5, 1895, and numbered, respectively, as 533,443 and 533,4A, the improved construction being such that the sheets will be conducted with greater advantage around with the cylinder of the coloringmachine and whereby the color will be prevented from flowing under or gathering at the edges of the sheets, and whereby, fursimplified inconstruction and will deliver the sheets more accurately to the carriers, which carriers are adapted to convey the sheets through the drying-section of the machine. A further object of the invention is to so construct the drying-section of the machine that the sheets while wet will be supported throughout their travel in a manner whichv will prevent the sheets from buckling, and whereby also the colored .sheetsrmay be delivered to a receiver in a perfect condition.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts,as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of the cylinder of a coloring-machine and. parts immediately attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section of the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the section of the machine illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View through the forward portion of the dryingsection of the machine and a portion of the 1 conveyer for the coloring-section of the machine, the said sectional view being taken on Serial No. 616,305. (No model.)

the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side eleva- I tion of the rear portion of the drying-section of the machine. Fig. 7 is a plan View of that portion of the machine shown in Fig. 6. Fig.

'8 is a vertical sectional view through the rear 10 is a. side view of a portion of the coloringsection of the machine, illustratinga gripper as 1 having received a sheet to be carried around with the cylinder of said machine, the

feed-table and shaft above it being in section.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view intended to illustrate the transfer of the paper from the grippers of the coloring-section of the machine to the carriers of the drying-section or dryingmachine. Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the grippers used in connection with the coloringportion of the machine. Fig. 13 is a front elevation of one end of a carrier used in connection with the drying-machine. Fig. 14 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is an end View of the right-hand portion of a gripper. Fig. 16 is a plan view .of the part shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17, is a left-hand view of a gripper. Fig.

18 is a plan view of the portion of the gripper shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is av detail perspective View, partly in section, of a gripper belonging to the coloring-machine and the device for preventing the running of the color, the parts being located at the bottom portion of the coloring-cylinder; and Fig. 20 is a View similar to Fig. 19, showing the parts at the top portion of the coloring-cylinder just before the protective device is released from engagement with the gripper.

The cylinder A, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a sprocket-surface 15 near each end. The cylinder A is mounted and driven in substantially the same manner as in the patents upon which this invention is an improvement, and the manner in which the mounting and driving are effected forms no portion of the present application. Endless chain belts 16 are carried over sprocket-pinions 18, securedto a shaft 17 at the rear of the feed-table 1'7 of the coloring-machine shown in said Fig. 1. The lower stretches of the chain 16 are brought down quite close to the feed-table 17 and near the cylinder A, the lower stretches of the chains 16 being carried over sprocket-idlers 16.

The upper stretches of the conveyer-chains 16 are made to pass over supports 19, secured to the framework of the cylinder in any approved manner, and below the supports 10 slats 20 are arranged longitudinally of the conveyer-belts, or any equivalent of the slats may be employed, the slats when used being likewise supported ordinarily from the framework of the coloring-machine. These slats are adapted to support the sheets of paper that have been colored on the coloring-machine while the said sheets are conducted rearward by the upper stretches of the conveyer-belts 16.

The conveyer-belts carry grippers B of any desired number. These grippers are shown in detail in Figs. 12, 15, 1G, 17, and 18, and consist of a bar of metal, preferably flat, which is bent upon itself to form horizontal end sections 21, their wider faces being presented to the top and to the bottom of the line of travel of the conveyer, to which said sections are attached through the medium of pivots 22 or their equivalents passed through the end sections of the grippers and through suitable eyes or projections formed upon the inner faces of the conveyer or chain belts 16, as is best shown in Fig. 12. Each end section of a gripper is carried upward, forming a vertical standing section or lug 23, and the said standing sections or lugs 23 at the ends of a gripper areconnected by a body-bar 24, the longitudinal edges whereof are presented toward the top and the bottom of the line of travel of the conveyer-belts 1G. The bodybar 24 of a gripper is provided upon one of its faces with a series of hangers or brackets 25, in which a shaft 26 is held to turn. This shaft is jonrnaled in the upright portions or lugs .23, extending beyond the outer faces thereof, and except where the shaft passes through its hangers or bearings the said shaft is preferably more or less flattened, since at frequent intervals on the shaft gripping-arms 27 are secured, the said gripping-arms, as illustrated in Figs. 15 and 17, being more or less bent at their free ends, and these ends of the gripping-arms are adapted to engage with the sheets of paper to be colored and to firmly clamp the said sheets against a longitudinal edge of the body-bar 21 of a gripper, as is illustrated in Figs. 1!) and 20.

At the right-hand end of the shaft 26 of a gripper a cam 28 is secured, provided with a shoulder 29 and with opposing flat surfaces 30, removed a predetermined distance from the shoulder. \Vhen the arms of a gripper are in engagement with a sheet of paper to clamp or press the same against the bod y-bar 2t, the shoulder 29 will be at the bottom of the cam, as shown in Fig. 10. A spring 31 is attached to an offset 32 from the body-bar 24 and has bearing upon the right-hand cam 28 and rests on a fiat surface 30 when the gripper-arms are in their open position, as illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. At the left-hand end of the gripper-shaft 20 another cam 28 is secured. This cam is provided with a shoulder 33 and is engaged by a spring 34:, acting as a keeper; but the spring 31 is engaged with the lower instead of the upper portion of the left-hand cam. The right-hand cam 28 of the gripper is brought into operation when the sheet is to-be gripped, and the left-hand cam is brought into operation only when the grippin g-arms are to be released from engagement with the sheets.

A shaft 35 is journaled in the cylinder A of the coating or coloring section of the combined machine, and the said shaft 35 is provided with angular plates 36,attached thereto, and these plates are adapted to enter the spaces between the gripping-arms 27 on a gripper and to engage with the sheet in like manner as said gripping-arms in order to prevent the coloring-matter from running under the end of the sheet or gathering at that point. Therefore the shaft carried by the cylinder, and its plates 36 may be termed a protective device. This device is particularly shown in Figs. 19 and 20. In Fig. 13 the protective device is illustrated as cooperating with a gripper when the latter is at the lower portion of the cylinder A, and the protective device in its entirety may be designated by the reference-numeral O. In Fig. 20 the protective device and the gripper in connection with which it is employed are represented as at the upper portion of the coloring-cylinder and in a position near which it is to be released from engagement with the gripper. At one end of the shaft 35 of the protective device a pinion 38 is secured, (see Fig. 1,) and this pinion is arranged for engagement with a pinion 39, which is carried by an arm 40, pivoted on the cylinder, yet controlled by a spring device 4:1. This arrangen'ient of the gearing is not new, since it has been described and illustrated in the patents referred to in this specification.

The longitudinal edge of the arm 40, facing the outer edge of the cylinder at each side of the pinion 39, is more or less curved, and as the cylinder revolves in direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 the arm 40 will be brought in engagement with a pin 42, projected from the frame supporting the cylinder, and this pin will so move the arm 40 as to cause the pinion 39, through the medium of the pinion 38, to revolve the shaft 35 of the protective device, causing the plates 36, attached to the shaft, to drop upon the paper. Such action, however, is not brought about until after the paper has been taken hold of by the gripper in approaching the bottom portion of the cylinder. The protective device is removed from engagement with the sheet of paper by engagement with a second pin 43, (shown in Fig. 1,) which is near the upper portion of the cylinder, but forms no part thereof. The protective device is intended only to engage with thesheet to be colored while the sheet is being carried around with the cylinder and receives its coloring-matter and while the sheet is being conducted to the upper stretches of the conveyer-belts 16.

The sheets D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, are

fed downward on the table 17 until they engage with a stop device 44, which at the proper time is carried out of the way. The mechanism controlling the stop device does not enter into the present case. Just above the stop finger or fingers 44 a trip-arm 45 is projected outward from the frame of the coloring-machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10. The grippers approach the cylinder in an open position, and when the grippers are near the lower ends of the sheets D they receive the arms 45, which are in the nature of stay-fingers, engage with the shoulders 29 on the right-hand cams 28, and turn the said cams to the rear, bringing the point of the cam formed by the opposing flat surfaces 30 to the upright position shown in Fig. 10, therefore lifting the springs 31, carried at the right-hand end of the grippers, and when the right-hand cam of a gripperis thus. turned the gripping-arms of that gripper willpass beneath the sheet and will firmly clamp it to the body-bar 24.

Shortly after a gripper has takenup a sheet the protective device will act in conjunction with the gripper, as heretofore stated. The protective device after it has released a gripper permits the gripper to pass from the top portion of the cylinder rearward alongthe upper stretches of the conveyer-belts 16, and when the grippers have reached a point over the rear supporting-shaft 17, asshown in Fig. 11, the left-hand cam of the gripper B will have its shoulder 33 brought in engagement with a finger 46, which is projected from a suitable near-by support. The finger or triparm 46 above referred to serves to release the sheet from the gripper in order that the clamps of a carrier E, which is to convey the sheet through the drying apparatus, may take hold of said sheet. v

The main shaft 50 of the coloring apparatus is driven by a belt 48, which passes over a suitable pulley 51 on said shaft and over a pulley located on the main driving-shaft 49 for the drying apparatus. (Shown in Figs. 3 and 5.) In connection with the drying apparatus a suitable number of carriers E are employed, each carrier being adapted to carry a sheet. These carriers are of suitable length, extend across the drying apparatus, and are constructed as shown in Fig. 13, in which one end of a carrier is illustrated, the other end being of like construction. Each carrier consists of a body-bar 52, which is preferably inverted-T shape in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 14, and near each end of the body-bara block is usually attached to the forward member of the bar.

At each'end of the body-bar a roller 53 is loosely mounted, and from the under face of the body-bar, between its center and its ends,

gripping or clamping device of each end series, as'shown in Fig. 13, the springs acting to hold the said adjustable or movable jaws firmly against the fixed jaws 54 The frame of the drying apparatus may be of any desired length and height, and primarily consists of a series of uprights 60, connected atthe top by longitudinal bars 61 and by cross-bars, if desired, as well as end bars, and the said uprights may be otherwise braced, the braces being placed so as not to interfere with the sheets to be dried. At each side of the frame an upper rail 62 is located, extending from a point near the front to about the last intermediate upright 60, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Below the upper rails 62 parallel rails 63 are placed, extending a predetermined distance in direction of A the rear, while brace-bars 64, having the same direction, are located beneath the rails 63, and lower side brace-bars 65 are employed in the construction of the frame. plane of the side rails 64 at the rear of the frame, as shown in Fig. 6, a brace bar or rail 66 is located. At the extreme rear of the frame, at each side, a semicircular guide 67 is placed, being secured to an end upright 60 and being, furthermore, of such dimensions as to extend upward over the rear top portion of the frame at the side. At what would be the center of the circle from which each of the guides is struck a shaft 68 is journaled at the back of the machine at eachside, and

Above the upon each of the shafts 68 at their inner ends a'tra'nsfer-arm 69 is centrally secured. Each of the said transfer-arms is provided with a recess 70 in its end, the recesses being carried through opposite sides of the arm and closed at their open side portions by bolts 71, as

illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, and upon each of the shafts 68 a gear 72 is firmly attached. Each gear 72 meshes with a second gear 73, usually placed above it and secured upon an axle 74, and each gear 73 is made to mesh with a pinion 75, located on a shaft 76, while at the inner end of each shaft 76 a pulley 77 is attached.

Three conveying-tiers H, H, and H are located between the top and bottom portions of the frame. These tiers are adapted to support the carriers and the paper carried thereby throughout the major portion of the time necessary for drying the sheets, the sheets after leaving the last tier H being delivered to conveyer-belts H which may be termed a fourth tier in the dryingarrangement. The construction of each tier H, H, and II and the tier II will be considered separately. Vith reference to the construction of the top tier H, at the rear end of this tier, at each side of the machine, a transfer-wheel 78 is journaled upon a suitable shaft 7 8, and the transfer wheel or disk is provided with peripheral recesses 79, adapted to receive the ends of the carriers E, carried from the front of the machine by the first tier, and a guard 80 of segmental construction is located around the rear portion of each transfer-disk 78, while at the outer end of each shaft 7 8 on which the said transfendisks are placed, a sprocketwheel 81 is secured. Endless chain. belts 82 are passed over the sprocket-wheels 81 and around sprocket-wheels shown in dotted lines, but not numbered, secured on a slightlyhigher and moreforwardly-located shaft 80, upon which a drum S5 is secured. Each endless carrying-chain 82 is provided with pins 83, which extend at a right angle from its outer face, and these pins, by engaging with the carriers E, carry the said carriers in the direction in which the belts 82 travel.

The drum S5 is provided with a peripheral longitudinal groove 85, as shown best in Fig. 8, and the shaft 86 is supported, usually, from -suitable hangers 86, extended downward from the top of the frame, as shown in Fig. 6. A sprocket-wheel 87 is attached to the drum or to the shaft 86, near each end, while a gear 88 is secured to the left-hand end of the shaft 86. An endless chain belt 89 is carried around each sprocket-wheel 87, and the opposite end of this chain belt is passed over a drum 91, of similar diameter to the drum 85 and located at the front of the frame upon a shaft 92, the forward drum 91 being provided with a longitudinal groove 91, and the main chain belt 89 of the upper tier is carried above the upper side rail 62 and likewise above the next lower rail 63, the belt beingpassed over a sprocket-gear 91 located either on the drum 91 or the shaft 92.

An endless apron 93 is passed around the forward drum 91 and likewise around the rear drum 85 of the upper gear, the said apron being secured to rigid strips 94, attached to its inner face, and these strips, as illustrated in Fig. 4c, are secured to the chain-carrier or conveyerbelt S9 of the aforesaid upper tier, so that the endless belt and the main conveyer 89 will travel at the same rate of speed. Af-

' ter the carriers having the paper attached reach the upper stretch of the main conveyerbelt 89 the uncoated or uneolored surfaces of the sheets will lie upon the endless belt 92, as shown in Fig. 5, and will be preserved against buckling and against injury.

In the construction of the second tier of the drying apparatus, at the rear, two short sections of guide-bars 95 and 96 are employed at each side of the machine. Beneath the transfer-disks 78 a drum 97 is mounted on a shaft 97 and either the shaft or the drum is provided with sprocket-gears 97 and over each sprocket-gear at each side of the machine a conveyer-belt 97 is carried, and these conveyer-belts are likewise carried over sprocket wheels or gears 98, which are attached to a shaft 99, extending from side to side of the frame of the machine, and the shaft 99 is located below the shaft 86, carrying the drum 85 of the upper tier.

On the shaft 99,at each end,a second sprocket-wheel is secured, (shown in Fig. 6 and designated as 100%) and over these sprocketwheels 100 a second section of chain belts 100 is carried, attached either to the forward drum 10;? or to a shaft 103, carrying the said drum, as indicated in Fig. 8, so that, so far as the conveying mechanism of the second tier II is concerned, the rear portion of this tier is divided into two conveyer-belts. The sprocket-wheels over which the endless conveyer-belts 100 pass are designated on Fig. 6 by the reference-nu m era-l 105. The drum 102 is provided with a longitudinal recess 104:. (See Fig. 8.) An endless apron 106 is passed around the rear drum 97 of the said second tier of conveyers and is continued forward between the rear conveyers 97 and 100 over a roller 107, adjacent to the drum 102, and which is smaller in diameter than the drum 97 at the opposite end of the belt. The roller 107 is located upon a shaft 108, being loosely mounted on the said shaft. The speed of the apron 106 is about twice that of the conveyer chain belts of the upper tier and may be greater than that of the chain belts 97", forming the rear section of the lower tier, the chain belts 100, constituting the second rear section of the lower tier, being driven at the same speed as the speed of the conveyers of the upper tier. The result of this rapid driving of the apron 106 is that the carriers E, carrying the sheets as theyare conveyed rearward by the conveyer chains or belts on the upper tier, are delivered by the transfer-disks 78 to the conveyers of the second tier and the belt 106, since the speed of the conveyers of the upper tier is less than that of the lower tier at the rear, and as the sheets are carried rearward with their carriers in advance of the sheets it is necessary to dispose of the sheets quickly when delivered to the second tier. Therefore as the carriers drop down to meet the rear section 97 of the lower tier of the conveyers the belt 106, traveling so much faster than said section, receives the sheets and carries the free ends of the sheets rapidly forward, preventing a buckling or a marring of the sheets delivered to the aforesaid second tier.

By the time that the carriers reach the second rear section 100 of the conveyers on the second tier the carriers can travel at the same speed as on the upper tier; but the endless apron 106, continuing to travel at its rapid speed, insures the free ends of the sheets in contact with the apron being well advanced IIC ' and well straightened out.

. tially as the apron 93 in the upper tier, the

A third or forward section 109 of endless chains is provided for the second tier at each side of the machine, being carried over suitable sprocketwheels located on the shaft 103 on the drum 102, and the upper stretches of the forward section 109 of the conveyer-belts are carried over suitable guide-rails 110, while the lower stretches of the said chain belts pass over guide-rails 110*. The forward section of chain belt 109 of the second tier passes over sprocketwheels 110 and the said sprocket-wheels are secured upon a shaft 112, extending through from side to side of the frame of the machine near the front, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and on this shaft a drum 111 is secured, provided with a longitudinal recess 113. An endless apron 109 is passedaround the rear drum 102 and around the forward drum 111, the endless apron 109 being constructed substanapron 109 having slats 109 secured to its inner face and attached to the endless chain belts 102, and as the endless apron 109 passes over the drums 102 and 111 the slats 109 enter the recess or groove 113 in the forward drum and the recess'104 in the rear drum.

- Near each outer end of the forward shaft 112 of the second tier a transfer-disk 114 is secured, provided with cavities 114 adapted to receive the carriers E, as shown in Fig. 5.

On the upper tier H the carriers travel rearward, the sheets attached to the carriers extending forward. When thetransfer is made from the upper tier to the lower tier H, the sheets at their free ends travel forwardly in advance of the carriers carrying the sheets;

but, as illustrated in Fig. 5, when the sheets are transferred from the second tier to the third tier I]: through the medium of the transfer-disks 114 it is necessary that the sheets at their free ends should be taken quickly in a forwardly direction, since on the third tier H the carriers travel rearward, drawing in the same direction the sheets to which they are attached. The rapidforward movement of the sheets when the transfer ismade from the second to the third tier is absolutely necessary, since the sheets-at no time in their passage through. the drier should become buckled, folded, creased, or otherwise mutilated. To that end when the sheets are transferred by the transfer-disks 114 of the second tier they are delivered upon an endless apron or a series of belts 115, which belts or aprons, as shown by the arrow-s im Fig. '5, travel in a forwardly direction, or in the same direction as the belts of the second tier. ward receiving-belts 115 of the third tier will travel at one-half greater speed than the chain belts of the first tier and the chain belts of the forward section of the second tier. These receiving belts or aprons 115 of the third tier H are passed overdrums 118, loosely mounted on a shaft 119, and over drums 116 on a shaft 117. (See Fig. 5.) Sprocket wheels 120 are secured on the shaft 119, and

The for-' at each side of the machine endless chain belts 121 are carried over the said sprocketwheels 120, and the upper stretch of the chain belts 121 is passed over rails 122, aprons, or their equivalents, and the rear portion of the endless belt 121 is made to pass over sprocketwheels secured upon the shaft 123, located between the center and the forward portion of the machine, and the said shaft carries a drum 124. The endless belt 121, which is a chain belt and is adapted to carry the carriers, is the second section of the third tier H The third section of this tier consists of endless chain belts 125, which are passed over suitable sprocket-wheels located near the ends of the shaft 123, and the endless chain belts 125 are also passed over sprocket-wheels which are located on spud-shafts 126, near the rear end of the machine. (Shown in Fig. 8.) An endless apron 127 is passed over the drum 124 and over a drum 128 near the end of the machine, and this endless apron 127 is secured by slats 128 to the chain belt 125, the slats being on the under face of the apron, and suitable grooves are produced in the drums for the reception of these slats.

The sheets as they are carried rearward after being discharged from the second tier travel over the grating or the slats 122 and then over the endless apron 127, and at the extreme rear end of the lower tier H the carriers containing the sheets will be taken up by the upwardly and rearwardly extending conveyer-belts 129, which are passed over sprocket-wheels 130, secured at the end portions of the rear lower shaft 126, the said rear conveyer-belts 129 being carried over the sprocket-wheels 75, located on the shaft 76 and heretofore referred to and shown in Figs. 6'and 8. As the carriers are carried upward .by the rear conveyer 129 the paper hangs perpendicularly and the transfer-arms 69 engage with the carriers and carry them forward and downward, as also shown in Figs. 6 and 8, and may deliver them upon short sections of an endless chain belt'130"-, passed over sprocket-wheels 131, located on a'shaft 132, placed at the rear of the machine and beneath the guides 67, the shortbelts 130 being duplicated at each side-of the machine, and the forward ends of these belts pass over sprocket-wheels secured to a shaft 133. The short section 130 may bedispensed with entirely.

7 On the shaft133 a sprocket-wheel 134 is located at eachend, and each sprocket-wheel 134 carries an endless chain belt 135, which travels over suitable guide-rails 136 near the bottom portion of the frame of the drier. The

forward ends of these chains 135 are passed around sprocket-wheels 136, secured upon a shaft 137 at the front portion of the machine, as shown in Fig. 5. When theshort chainsections are discarded, the belt 135 will be carried to the wheel 134. The lowerchain belts 135 may be supported by suitable idlers 138, as shown in Fig. 5, since the belts are quite long. The short sections 130 of the chain belts 011 the bottom tier of the machine run faster than the forward longer sections 135, which travel quite slowly. The sheets are nearly dried when they are delivered to the short sections 130 at the bottom tier of conveyer-belts and become thoroughly dried while being conveyed by the forward sections of the lower conveyer-belts.

teanr-pipes 139 are placed between the various tiers and also at the bottom of the frame, so as to facilitate drying, and when the sheets reach a point near the front of the machine they will be adjacent to a receptacle 140 and will enter the said receptacle after traveling farther forward, and the crank-arms of the shafts controlling the clamps of the carriers will engage with trip-arms 141, (shown in Fig. 5,) releasing the sheets and permitting them to fall into the aforesaid receptacle 140.

At each side of the frame, at the front, a guide-track 47 is located, which has been heretofore referred to. These guide-tracks are supported by the frame and are held a predetermined distance from the lower rail 136, Over which the lowermost and delivery chain 135 passes. These tracks 47 extend horizontally beyond the front of the frame and then drop slightly and from the drop-section are carried upwardly and forwardly, their forward ends being upwardly curved. Near the forward end of each guide-rail 136, over which the delivery-chain 135 passes, a cam projection 143 is formed, so that the carriers after the sheets have been released will of necessity travel up the cams 143 as they advance forwardly and will be retarded in the event they should move too rapidly until they are engaged by fingers on the delivery-chain 135. The deliverychain at its forward end is adapted to convey the carriers to the forward or outer portions of the tracks 47, where they will be engaged by the fingers of short endless chains 145, and these chains, which are located one over each track, are made to travel over sprocket-wheels 146 and 146, placed, respectively, on shafts 147 and 148, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Guards 149 are carried from the forward ends of the tracks 47 upward and rearward over the forward end of the chain or conveyer of the upper tier. Near the forward end of each track 47 a cam 144 is secured, and as the carriers approach these cams the crankarms attached to the cranks of the carriers will travel along the under edge of the cams, which edges are convexed, and the clamps of the carriers will therefore be opened, the opening taking place 3' ust at the time that the sheets are released by the grippers, as shown particularly in Fig. 11, and as the crank-arms of the carriers leave the cams 144 the jaws of their clamps close upon the paper, and the carriers, with the paper attached, are carried upward upon the upper stretches of the chain belts 150, located below the guards 149 and provided with suitable pins 151. These endless chain carrying-belts 150 are passed over sprocket-wheels which are on the shaft 148, thence upward over idlers on the forward shaft 92 of the upper tier, and downward over idlers 152 on a shaft 152 to the sprocketwheels on the shaft 148. The chain belts 150, which carry the carriers and the sheets upward as delivered by the grippers from the coating-cylinder, travel at about the same rate of speed as the belts of the upper tier and faster than the lower and shorter belts 145.

Guard-rails 153 are provided for the upper stretchesofthe triangular belt or chain 150 and slats on an apron 154, located between the forward and upper stretches of the aforesaid triangular chain belts, upon which the sheets D rest as they are conducted upward.

In order that the carriers may be held against turning while upon the finishing-belts when passing the trips 141 and 144, bars 154 are so fastened to the drier-frame that they will commence at a point at the rear of the first trips 141 at each side of the drier and terminate slightly in advance of the forward trips 144, as shown in Fig. 5. The bars 154 are adapted to engage with the blocks 55 upon the carriers and to hold the body portion of the latter against turning, enabling the trips 141 and 144 to act upon the crank-arms 58 of the shafts 57, operating the movable jaws 56 of the clamps upon said carriers. Both sets of trips serve to open the clamps, which are closed automatically by their springs immediately upon being released from the trips.

Near each transfer device segmental projections 150 are secured to the frame, which projections serve to retard the carriers, and therefore prevent them being crowded upon the transfer devices. These projections 156 are best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and are specially located near the forward transfer devices; but they may be placed adjacent to the rear transfer devices if in practice it is found desirable.

The driving mechanism may be varied; but, as illustrated, the said mechanism is as follows: A driving-belt 157 is driven from a pulley on the main shaft 49 and is passed over a small sprocket-wheel 158 at the front side of the drier, as shown in Fig. The shaft 159, upon which the sprocket 158 is secured, extends through to the left-hand side or back of the machine and at its rear end carries a pinion 160, which meshes with a gear 161, secured upon the front'shaft 112 of the second tier of carrying-belts, the said shaft having connected therewith the forward drum 111 of the second tier and the transfer-disks 114.

The driving-belt 157 operates the forward carrying-belts and passes in engagement with an idler 102. (Shown in Fig. 3.) A crossed driving-belt 163 is passed over a pulley 104, (shown in Fig. 4,) located upon the driven shaft 159. The said crossed belt is also carried over a sprocket 165 on the shaft 117, which carries the drum 116, over which the belt 115 is passed, which belt has been herebuckling.

, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

' otherwise.

tofore referred to as a receiving-belt; but this belt is properly a rectifying-belt, since, as heretofore stated, it will rectify the position of the sheets as they are passed to the third tier, preventing the said sheets from The driving-belt 163 gives movement to the said rectifying-belt, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 3.

At the rear of the drier (see Figs. 6 and 7) a driving mechanism is duplicated at the right and at the left hand sides of said drier. This mechanism consists of ashaft 166, which is carried through the drier and is provided at its left-hand end with a sprocket-pinion 167, over which a crossed belt 168 is passed, being driven from the main drive-shaft 49, as

At the righthand end of the shaft 166 a pinion 169 is secured, and said pinion meshes with a large gear-wheel170, being mounted upon the stud-.

shaft 126. The rear transfer mechanism is also driven from the stud-shaft 126 through the medium of driving-belts 171, which pass over sprocket-wheels 172 on the shaft 126 and are connected with the gears 170 by a sleeve or The driving-belts 17] pass over sprocket-wheels 17 2 on the shafts 76 and thence downward over'idlers 173 to the parent sprocket-wheels 172. The driving-belt 168, imparting movement to the rear section of the carrying-chains of the said third tier, also drives the forward section-1 of the same tier by reason of both the forward and the rear carrying-chains passing over the same drum 124, as shown in Fig. 5; but in order that the friction shall be reduced to a mini mum in the operation of the third tier a -over the sprocket 174 and over a smaller sprocket 176, secured to the right-hand end 'of the forward shaft 119 of the said third tier.

A chain belt 177 is driven from the main shaft 49 and is carried to and imparts movement to the forward shaft 92 of the forward section of the upper tier of carrying-belts. The rear section 82 of the upper carryingbelt, which section has been denominated a transfer-section, is driven as follows: A shaft 178 is passed through from side to side of the drier in front of the shaft 86,0ver which the'forward portion of the transfer-belts 82 and the rear po tion of the main belts 89 of the upper tier are passed. At the left-hand end of the shaft 178 a pinion 179 is secured, which meshes with the gear 88 of the aforesaid shaft 86, and at the right-hand end of the shaft 17 8 a sprocket-wheel 180, is secured,

' over which a belt 181, preferably crossed, is

carried, the said belt being driven from the main driving-shaft 49. The driving of the forward section of the intermediate tier of carrying-belts has been described-as being accomplished through the medium of the pinion 160 and the gear 161, and the rear'sections of the carrying-belts of this tier are driven through the same source, since the strips of the two rearsections of the second or intermediate tier of carrying-belts and which is to travel at a much greater speed than the said carrying-belts, is driven by an endless chain belt 182,, which is passed over a small sprocket-wheel 183 (see Fig. 7, and also shown indotted lines in Fig. 8 on the rear shaft 97 and over a much larger sprocket-wheel 184, located on the shaft 103, rotated by the driving mechanism at the front portion of this tier.

The finishing-belts 135 are driven by placing a gear 185 on preferably the right-hand end of the shaft 137 and causing this gear to mesh with a pinion 186, attached to a shaft 187, located below the lower stretch of the finishing-belt at the right-hand side of the machine. A sprocket-wheel188 is secured to the shaft 187 at the left-hand side of the drier, and a belt 189 is passed around this sprocket-wheell 88 and over a sprocket-wheel 190 on the front shaft 92 of the upper tier of carrying-belts, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

When the rear section of the finishing-belt 135 is employed, the said section is driven through the medium of a driving-belt 192, passed over'a pinion 191 on therear lower shaft 132 and over the large sprocket-wheel 193 on the shaft 133, upon which the drum is placed supporting the rear end of the said finishing-belt, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 8, thismechanism being duplicated at each side of the machine.

The conveyer-belts 150, at the front of the drier, and the lower conveyer-belts 145, also at the front of the drier, are driven by means of an endless chain 194, which is passed over a sprocket-wheel 196, secured on the shaft 17, which is drivenby the power applied to the coloring or coating section of the machine. This latter driving mechanism is best shown in Fig. 3. 1

The shaft 147 is driven by a chain belt 197, passed over the pulley on the said shaft and over a pulley on the shaft 17. The chain belts 125 of the lower tier of carrying-belts H pass over guide-rails 198, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8. i Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a drier, carrying-belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of the said tiers having movement in reverse direction tothe belts between which they are located, and a rectifying-belt forming a continuation of the lower tier of carrying-belts, and geared to travel in a reverse direction to the main belts of the said lower tier and in the same direction as the belts of the said intermediate tier, substantially as described.

2. In a drier, carrying-belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of the said tiers having movement in reverse direction to the belts between which they are located, and a rectifying-belt located beneath the delivery end of an intermediate carrying-belt and forming a continuation of the belts of the lower tier, the said rectifying-belt being geared to travel at a greater speed than the adjacent belts of the tiers and in the ,same direction as the belts in the intermediate tier beneath which the said rectifying-belt is placed, substantially as described.

3. In a drier, carrying-belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of said tiers having movement in reverse direction to the belts between which they are located, a rectifyingbelt located beneath the delivery end of an intermediate carrying-belt and forming a continuation of the belts of the lower tier, the said rectifying-belt being geared to travel at a greater speed than the adjacent belts of the tiers and in the same direction as the belts in the intermediate tier beneath which said rectifying-belt is placed, a transfer mechanism located at the rear of the upper tier of the carrying-belts, a transfer mechanism at the forward end of the intermediate tier of carrying-belts, a finishing-belt, and a transfer device between the finishing-belt and the belts of the lower tier, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a drier, carrying-belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of said tiers having movement in reverse direction to the belts between which they are located, a rectifyingbelt located beneath the delivery end of an intermediate carrying-belt and forming a continuation of the belts of the lower tier, the said rectifying-belt being geared to travel at a greater rate of speed than the adjacent belts of the tiers and in the same direction as the beltsof the intermediate tier beneath which said rectifying-belt is placed,a transfer m echanism located at the rear of the upper tier of carrying-belts, a transfer mechanism at the forward end of the intermediate tier of carrying-belts, a finishing-belt, and a transfer device between the finishing-belt and the belts of the lower tier, the said finishing-belt being geared to travel at a slower rate of speed than the carrying-belts of the said tiers, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a drier, carrying-belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of the said tiers havin g movement in reverse direction to the belts between which they are located, and aprons traveling with the said earrying-belts, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a drier, carrying-belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of the said tiers having movement in reverse direction to the belts between which they are located, aprons traveling with the said carrying-belts, pins projected from the said belts, and carriers supported by the belts, the material held by the carriers being supported on the aprons connected with the belts, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a drier, carrying -belts arranged in tiers, intermediate belts of the said tiers having movement in reverse direction to the belts between which they are located, aprons traveling with the said carrying-belts, pins projected from the said belts, carriers supported by the belts, the material held by the carriers being supported on the aprons connected with the belts, and transfer devices arranged to receive the carriers, conducting the said carriers from one tier of belts to the other, sul stantially as and for the purpose specified.

S. In a drier, the combination, with an upper horizontal carrying-belt, means for rotating the same, an apron connected with the said belt, a transferbelt operating in conjunction with the apron-carrying belt, and a transfer device receiving the material from the transfer-belt, of a series of horizontal belts located beneath the upper belt and the transfer extension thereof, the latter belts being geared to travel in a direction the reverse of the upper belts, an apron operating in con junction with and independent of the rear series of the second tier of belts, the apron being geared to travel at a greater rate of speed than the belts beneath which it is placed, the forward belts of the second tier having aprons attached thereto, a third tier of belts geared to travel in a direction the reverse of the intermediate tier, sundry of the third set of belts having aprons also attached thereto, others being passed over stationary supports, a rectifying-belt located in front of and forming a continuation of the lower tier of carryingbelts, the rectifying-belt being geared to travel in a reverse direction to the carrying-belts of the lower tier, and a transfer device located at the forward end of the intermediate tier, adapted to deliver the material carried to the lower tier of belts, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a drier, the combination, with an upper horizontal carrying-belt, means for rotating the same, an apron connected with the said belt, a transverse belt operating in conjunction with the apron-carrying belt, and a transfer device receiving the material from the transfer-belt, of a series of horizontal belts located beneath the upper belt and the transfor extension thereof, the latter belts being geared to travel in a direction the reverse of the upper belts, an apron operating in 0011- junction with and independent of the rear series of the second tier of belts, the apron being geared to travel at a greater rate of speed than the belts beneath which it is placed, the forward belts of the second tier having aprons attached thereto, a third tier of belts geared to travel in a direct-ion the reverse of the intermediate tier, sundry of the third set of belts having aprons also attached thereto, others being passed over stationary supports, a rectifying-belt located in front of and forming IIC a continuation of the lower tier of carryingbelts,the rectifyin g-belt being geared to travel in a reverse direction to the carrying-belts of the lower tier, a transfer device located at the forward end of the intermediate tier, adapted to deliver the material carried to the lower tier of belts, the said rectifying-belt being geared to travel at a greater rate of speed than the carrier-belts, carriers provided with clamps, located on the carrying-belts and" adapted'to be received by the transfer devices, and means for holding, the carriers at predetermined intervals on the carryingbelts, as and for the purpose set forth.-

10. In a drier, the combination with'an upper horizontal carrying-belt, means for rotating the same, an apron connected with the said belt, a transfer-belt operating in conjunction with the apron-carrying'belt, and a transferdevice receiving the material from the transfer-belt, of a series of horizontal belts located beneath the upper belt and the transfer extension thereof, the latter belts being geared to travel in a direction the reverse of the upper belts, an apron operating in conjunction with and independent of the rear series of the second tier of belts, the apron being geared to travel at a greater rate of speed than the belts beneath which it is placed, the forward belts of the second tier having aprons attached thereto, a third tier of belts geared to travel in a direction the reverse of the intermediate tier, sundry of the thirdset of belts having aprons also attached thereto, others being passed over stationary supports, a rectifying-belt located in front of and forming a continuation of the lower tier of carrying-belts, the rectifying belt being geared to travel in a reverse direction to the carrying-belts of the lower tier, a transfer device located at the forward end of the intermediate tier, adapted to deliver the material carried to the lower tier of belts,

the finishing-belt, as and for the purpose set forth. v

11. In a drier, the combination, with carryin g-belts arranged in tiers,-.intermediate belts of said tiers having movement in reverse directions, aprons carried by the upper and the lower tiers of belts and by sundry of the belts in the intermediate tiers, other of the belts inthe intermediate tiers being provided with aprons independent thereof and geared to travel at a higher rate of speed, transfer devices between the several tiers of carryingbelts, a finishing-belt, a transfer connection directions, aprons carried by the upper and j the lower tiers' of belts and by sundry of the belts. in the intermediate tiers, others of the belts in the intermediate tiers being provided with aprons independent thereof and geared to travel at a higher rate of speed, transfer devices between the several tiers of carryingbelts, a finishing-belt, a transfer connection between the lower tier of carrying-belts and the finishing-belt, carriers located on the carrying-belts, the said carriers being provided with clamps to hold material in sheets, the clamps of the carriers being provided with projecting arms, and trip devices located in the path of the carriers, arranged for engagement with the said arms, the said trip devices serving to open and to close the clamps, and rails located over the trip devices under which the carriers pass, whereby the carriers are held from turning upon reaching the trip devices, substantially as shown and described.

13. A carrier consisting of a body-bar, rollers located at the ends of the body-bar, clamps attached to the body-bar, each of the said clamps consisting of a fixed and a movable member, and spring-controlled shafts connected with the movable members of the clamps, as and for the purpose set forth.

14:. A carrier consisting of a body-bar, rollers located at the ends of the body-bar, a series of clamps secured to the body-bar near each end, each clamp comprising a fixed and a movable member, and a shaft connecting the movable members of each series of clamps,

each shaft terminating in a crank-arm at its outer end, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. A carrier consisting of a body-bar, a roller at each end of the said body-bar, a series of clamps secured to the body-bar near each end, each clamp consisting of a fixed and a movable member, shafts connecting the movable members of, each series and serving to hold the movable members in engagement with the fixed members, crank-armsformed at the outer ends of the shafts, and guide-surfaces formed on the body-bar near its ends, the guide-surfaces being adapted to assist in holding the body-bar against turning, under certain conditions in the application of the carrier, as and for the purpose set forth.

' 16. A gripper, consisting of a body-bar, a shaft j ournaled in the body-bar, cams located at the ends of the shaft, and gripping-arms secured to the said shaft, the free ends of the IIO gripping-arms being adapted for engagement with a longitudinal edge of the body-bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. A gripper consisting of a body-bar, a shaft journaled in the said body-bar, a cam located at each end of the shaft, and springs secured to fixed supports and having bearing one against each of the cams, and grippingarms secured to the said shaft, the free ends of the gripping-arms being curved in direction of a longitudinal edge of the body-bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

18. The combination, with chain belts, of a gripper consisting of a body-bar having its ends of angular construction, the ends being secured to the said belts, a shaft journaled upon the body-bar, the ends of the shaft extending beyond the raised portions of the angular ends of the said body-bar, spring-controlled cams secured to the ends of the shaft, and gripping-arms attached to the shaft be tween its ends, extending in direction of a longitudinal edge of the body-bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

19. The con1bination,with a support,ehains held to travel over the said support, and tripfingers projected from the support,of grippers attached to the ehains,each gripper consisting of a body having its ends angular, the ends being attached to opposing chains, a shaft journaled upon the body-bar, extending beyond the higher portions of its angular ends, earns secured upon the outer ends of the shaft,

each cam being provided with a shoulder arranged for engagement with a trip-finger upon the said support, springs bearing upon the said cams, and gripping-arms secured to the shaft, the said arms being curved at their free ends in direction of a longitudinal edge of the bodybar, as and for the purpose speci- Tied.

20. The eon1binat-ion,\vitl1 a support,chains held to travel in parallel orderaround the said support, grippers attached at their ends to the said chains, each gripper consisting of a bodybar, a shaft journaled in the said body-bar and provided with cams at its ends, each cam being springcontrolled, grippingarms attached to the said shaft and extending in direction of a longitudinal edge of the body-bar, and fingers attached to the said supports and arranged for tripping engagement with the shoulders of the said cams, of a cylinder around which the said chains pass, and a protective device carried by the cylinder, which protective device consists of a shaftand plates secured to the said shaft, the said plates being curved at their free ends and arranged to engage with the bod y-bar of the gripper between the gripping-arms thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS DEJONGE, JR.

\Vitnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, .TNo. M. BITTER. 

